The January
issue of U.S. News and Word Report carried the cover story
entitled, "50 ways to improve life in 2007." On the top of the
list was "Get happy." We all want to be happy. People in every
walk of life are seeking for happiness. Thomas Jefferson wrote
in the declaration of independence that the pursuit of happiness
is one of our "unalienable rights." Yet, if there is one
characteristic that seems to mark the mood our times, it is
unhappiness. People are unhappy with their families, jobs,
relationships, and just about everything that touches their
lives. In a recent survey done by the Pew Research Foundation,
15% said they are very unhappy. The rest said that they are
either happy or pretty happy. The problem with such surveys lies
in the definition of happiness. For most people, happiness is
nothing more than a psychological feeling experienced when one’s
desires or wants are met. Mortimer Adler, one of the
distinguished philosophers of the twentieth century said that to
define happiness in terms of feeling is a philosophical mistake.
He said happiness is much deeper than that; it consists in the
moral and ethical quality of a life lived. Only after a person
has lived out his or her life can one say whether or not that
person was a happy person. In this sense, happiness is not a
feeling we experience at any given moment, but a state of
becoming.
In Psalm 1, we
find the characteristics of a truly happy person. The psalmist
describes the life of a happy person, not in terms of
psychological feelings that are evanescent, but in terms of the
moral and ethical quality of such a life. First, we learn that
path of a happy person is holiness. "Oh, the joys of those who
do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with
sinners or join in with mockers" (Ps. 1:1). Happy are those that
are separated from a life of sin unto God. They don’t follow the
advice of the wicked nor linger around with sinners. They have
put on the new nature of Christ and walk in the spirit and not
fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal.5:16). Holiness is not a
popular word in our culture, but the fact remains that we are
called to a life holiness (1 Pet. 1: 15-16). The path to
holiness begins at mount Calvary where Christ the Holy Son of
God became sin for us that we might have the righteousness of
God in Christ. In Christ we have all that we need to live a holy
life, for in Christ we are partakers of the divine nature (2
Pet. 1:3-4).
Second, we
learn that the pursuit of a happy person is godliness. "But they
delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it say and night"
(Ps. 1:2). Happy are those who don’t pursue happiness, but
pursue God who is our joy and happiness. Paul writes, "Godliness
with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6). He admonished
Timothy to "exercise godliness," which is "profitable for all
things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which
is to come" (1 Tim. 4:8). A happy person delights in the law of
the Lord and is devoted to the law of the Lord. He delights in
the law of the Lord because in it he meets with God who alone
can give him joy and happiness. The psalmist says, "The
commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.
The commandments of the Lord are clear, giving insight for
living" (Ps. 19: 8). In His word, we meet with God. Jesus said,
"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you
eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!" (John 5:39). If
you have Jesus in your heart, you are happy and joyful even in
your difficulties. You can rejoice always no matter what your
circumstances are. Leo Tolstoy, the famous Russian writer, said
that "to know God is to live." Without God you live with an
existential vacuum that nothing in this life can fill.
Third, we learn
that the prosperity of a happy person is fruitfulness. "They are
like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each
season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they
do" (Ps. 1:3). Today, many think of prosperity only in terms of
material blessings, although prosperity does include material
provisions for our life. Here the psalmist describes prosperity
in terms of fruitfulness, which is a life that glorifies God by
being a blessing to others through the exercise of spiritual
gifts given by the Lord. Unfortunately, many are barren in their
lives. They have received the word of the Lord joyfully, but
because they have no deep roots they remain unfruitful. God
wants you to be a blessing to others and bring glory to God. Are
you a blessing to those around you?
The key to
fruitfulness is to abide in Christ. Jesus said, "Those who
remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit" (John
15:5). The season for you to bear fruit in your life will begin
only when you abide in Christ. Jesus says, "Come unto me." He
invites you to enter into a relationship with Him. He says,
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and
open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together
as friends." Jesus invites you to be his friend. Will you come?
You will be happy you did. In His presence is the fullness of
joy and at his right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Is it possible
to be happy in an unhappy world? Yes, absolutely. The path to
such enduring happiness is a life lived for God, a life in
pursuit of God, and a life that is a blessing to others by the
power of God.
Misson Philippines - In March
2006 we were in the Philippines for a week of evangelistic
meetings. The venue of the Philippines crusade was the Urios
gymnasium of the Urios College in Butuan city in northern
Mindanao. Over three nights of meetings, some 10,000
Filipinos attended the meetings and heard the clear
presentation of the gospel. Each night, when I gave the
invitation, hundreds came forward to receive Jesus Christ.
Based on the decision cards signed by the converts, some 600
people made first-time commitments to Jesus Christ. Let us
praise the Lord for these precious souls.
Approximately 80 churches participated
in Mission Philippines. Twenty-five pastors served as
counselors. Although most people understood the English
language, each night my message was also interpreted into
the Cibuano language for the benefit of those who did not
understand English. The Lord enabled me to deliver the
simple gospel message in a clear and understandable way and
invite people to make a decision for Christ.
Pray that the Lord would continue to
ignite a revival, strengthen the body of Christ, and empower
the church to penetrate the land with the redeeming gospel
of Jesus Christ.
Mission Nigeria – In September
2006 we were in Nigeria for a crusade in Ayoboa region of
Lagos. The Lord opened an effective door for us to preach
the gospel in Nigeria, but there were many hindrances (1 Cor.
16:9). From the moment we landed in Lagos, there was pouring
rain every day. Because of rain many people who could not
come. Rain or shine, we faithfully proclaimed the gospel
each night and witnessed several people come to Christ. My
son, Bejoy Philip, spoke at a youth rally attended by over
200 young men and women. Twenty youngsters gave their lives
to Christ in that rally. We also held a seminar on
evangelism and church growth for pastors. Some forty pastors
attended the seminar and were blessed. After the seminar,
each pastor was given a Bible as a gift.
The republic of Nigeria comprised 500
ethnic groups and a land mass rich in agriculture, mineral
resources, and oil. Unfortunately, as in many nations of the
world, a culture of greed, corruption, international crime,
communal wars, and drug running has left the nation
impoverished economically and spiritually. Although, in
recent years Nigeria witnessed great revivals, soon the
church found itself tangled in divisions, admixture of
unbiblical practices, and doctrinal distortions. There is,
indeed, a critical need for preaching Christ and salvation
by grace alone.
Pray that there will be political rest
in Nigeria, that the church will resist the temptation to
change the message to suit the times, but will move forward
in unity and steadfastness to preach the gospel faithfully.
Republic of Ghana
by Rhoda Simpson
The
Republic of Ghana formerly known as the Gold Coast is a country
in West Africa. It borders Côte
d'Ivoire to the west,
Burkina
Faso to the north,
Togo
to the east, and the
Atlantic
Ocean to the south.
Accra
is the capital and largest city. The country has population of
about 21.8 million and is seated on 238,533 sq km. (92,998 sq
miles). Its natural resources include gold, cocoa, manganese and
bauxite. Ghana, my place of birth, is also a nation full of
hospitality where all visitors and strangers, especially
missionaries, are welcomed and treated with dignity. Its major
religions include Christianity, Traditional Religion and Islam.
Ghana's population is concentrated along the coast and in the
principal cities of Accra and Kumasi.. Ethnically Ghana is
divided into small groups speaking more than 50 languages and
dialects. Among the more important linguistic groups are the
Akans of which I am a part. The Akans include the Fanti along
the coast and the Ashanti in the forest region north of the
coast. Other tribes include the Guans on the plains of the Volta
River, the Ga and Ewe speaking peoples of the south and
south-east, and the Moshi-Dagomba speaking tribes of the
Northern and Upper Regions.
Ghana was a British colony until March 6th 1957, at
which time she gained independence. It is the first African
country to gain independence. As a result of its British
colonization English became the official and commercial language
which is taught in all schools even today.
Christian missionaries consisting of Basel/Presbyterian and
Wesleyan/Methodist missionaries arrived on the coast of Ghana in
the 19th Century. They laid the foundation for the
Christian church in Ghana. These missionaries established
schools among the Akwapim as stepping stones of the church in
which an educated African class was trained. Almost all major
secondary schools today, especially exclusive boys’ and girls’
schools, are mission- or church-related institutions. Although
churches continue to influence the development of education in
the country, church schools have been opened to all since the
state assumed financial responsibility for formal instruction
under the Education Act of 1960.
Early Christian missionaries have helped Ghana a lot by setting
a pace for Christian schools. While growing up all school
children are assembled every morning to have a short worship
service and commit the day to God’s hand before they start
classes. All schools in Ghana from grade school to high school
continue to do this, to this day. Every high school has a
chaplain and sometimes guest preachers are invited to speak to
the students. I cherish those days very much because those
activities shaped us and helped us stay focused on God and on
doing the right things even after having all the fun that high
school can give. There were various Christian youth groups in
most high schools like the Scripture Union (SU) and GAMSU to
mention a few. I was a member of the GAMSU organization and we
called ourselves Ambassadors for Christ. These various
Christian groups teach the bible and equip students to go out
and evangelize bringing more youth to the salvation knowledge of
Christ. It is, therefore, no wonder that Johnston and Mandryk
reports in their book, “Operation World,” that youth are in the
forefront of the move of the Spirit in Ghana.
Johnston and Mandryk also reported that there is a lack of
effective programs in most Ghanaian churches for children under
age 15 as well as a shortage of workers among children. I,
therefore, urge you to pray that God will raise up
Christian workers to create and coordinate effective Christian
programs for children and the youth. The writers of “Operation
World,” request that we pray for converted young people, who
will be decisive in church, mission, and national affairs and
that many will hear God’s call into full time ministry.
Johnston and Mandryk again ask that we should pray for a
healthy, helpful partnership between indigenous church leaders
and missionaries and for missionaries serving the Lord in Ghana.
I also request that you pray for God to raise mature
Christian leaders in the society, leaders who will preach and
teach the unadulterated truth of the gospel. Most Ghanaian
televangelists are clearly motivated by their US counterparts.
They imitate their styles and tie into international
charismatic-Pentecostal mass media patterns. They declare a
message of success, achievement, self making and prosperity,
attracting not only the young but also successful businessmen
and politicians. Let’s pray that only the truth, nothing but
the truth, will be taught on Ghana’s media when it comes to the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
